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Northern Kentucky resident Aaron Elam recently skipped some classes at the University of Kentucky to compete in a national video gaming competition, and it paid off - literally.

The pro gamer from Union who's known by the gamertag of "Ace" is $200,000 richer after taking the top prize in last weekend's 343 Industries and Virgin Gaming's Halo 4 Global Championship in Seattle. The tournament drew about 140 of the world's best Halo 4 players.

Elam defeated eight finalists in a two-hour competition Sept. 1 that ended in a sudden death tiebreaker. ...